NEWS Briefs

CROP WALK RETURNS OCT. 14 – The Annual Chesaning CROP Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct 14 beginning at 1:30 p.m. The walk is four miles long and takes about oneand a-half hours to complete. Registered Walkers just need to ask their friends, relatives and associates to pledge donations and in return they participate in the CROP Walk. Walkers do not have to complete the whole four miles. All ages are welcome. Twenty-five percent of funds raised locally will help Chesaning Area Emergency Relief (C.A.E.R.). Participants can sign up at their local church; or new technology allows for registration to be a CROP Walker online by visiting www.cropwalk.org. Donations are also easy to do online at the same address. For more information contact Chris Mishler at 989-845-2203 or Chris Strait at 989-845- 7181.

SCHWAN’S TRUCK FUNDRAISER – St. Charles High School Class of 2013 is hosting a Schwan’s Truckload Sale on Wednesday, Oct. 17 from noon to 8 p.m. The Schwan’s truck will be set up in the St. Charles High School parking lot. Everyone is welcome to come and make purchases straight from the truck. All purchases are cash and carry. Payment can be in the form of cash, check, or credit.

STC HIGH SCHOOL PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE – St. Charles High School Parent-Teacher Conference will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 16 and Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 3 to 7 p.m. each day in the cafeteria. There will also be a senior financial aid meeting for seniors and parents on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 7 p.m., and on Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the board of education room.

BALLOT PROPOSAL FORUM – Michigan State University Extension will host a Genesee County and statewide ballot proposal forum on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Mott Community College Event Center. The purpose of the forum is to provide factual, unbiased information on each statewide proposal and the three Genesee County-wide millages, and to provide the opportunity for participants to discuss the proposals with other citizens and with MSU policy experts. For more information, contact Darren Bagley at (810) 244- 8515 or bagleyda@msu.edu.

ST. CHARLES SETS TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS - The St. Charles Village Council voted on Wednesday to hold trick-or-treat hours from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31. Village Manager Hal Mead noted that in previous years the village set the hours as 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m. Mead said some residents shared concerns thata5p.m.starttimemadeitdifficult for people who work and others felt 8 p.m. was too late to have children coming to the door. The council opted to compromise with the 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. schedule.

LIBRARY DEDICATION - On Thursday, Oct. 25, the Big Rock Elementary School Library will be dedicated in memory of Chesaning teacher, Beth Ann Young, in recognition of her large donation to the school’s library. The dedication will take place inside Big Rock Elementary School Library between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Cider and donuts will be served.

BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE - In an effort to attract and retain new school bus drivers, the Chesaning Union Schools Board of Education has approved offering Health Reimbursement Accounts to school bus drivers. The Chesaning Union School District has experienced a shortage of bus drivers since it switched to a single run, saving 1,000 gallons of fuel. School district buses are driving 6,700 fewer miles. School Board Secretary Rebecka Butcher commented, “You’ve got to do something to retain them.”

STUDENTS SET SITES ON D.C. - The Chesaning Union Schools Board of Education has approved an overnight trip to Washington, D.C., for seventh and eighth grade students. The trip will take place in June of 2013, and so far, 29 students have signed up to go. According to teacher Lisa Maike, two years ago, a student group took a trip to Washington, D.C., at a cost of $1,400 per student. Maike worked to bring the costs down substantially. As a result, students will be riding a bus instead of flying; but the cost has dropped to $564 per person.

NEOLA POLICY CHANGES - It’s the time of the school year when Michigan school boards review the list of policy changes recommended by NEOLA, a company specializing in providing school policy recommendations. This fall’s recommendations seem to be focused on the addition of a non-discrimination clause based on genetic information.

$100 FEE INCREASE - For years the City of Montrose DPW has mowed yards that were overgrown and charged property owners $25; supposedly to cover the cost. Costs have increased and the Montrose City Council recognizes that it is not appropriate for the community at large to cover the cost of having city employees mow lawns. In addition, they feel that some property owners have been taking advantage of the low cost. As a result, the council has updated ordinance 22-219, calling for property owner pay a minimum of $125 per mowing or the actual cost, which ever his higher. The fee is “for the removal and/or destruction of weeds, grass, poisonous or harmful vegetation from lots in violation of standards established in the city Code of Ordinances, plus related inspections; on a single lot.” Once adopted, the ordinance would be in effect yearly between May 1 and Oct. 31. Furthermore, the ordinance provides that if the fees incurred are not paid before the start of the following May1 season, then the ordinance provides for those fees to become a lien on the property. A public hearing will be scheduled before the ordinance goes into effect. The date of the hearing has yet to be announced.

LAND DONATED FOR COMMUNITY GARDEN - The Stewart family has donated three lots on West Maple in Montrose for use as a community garden. The Montrose City Council officially accepted the land donation during their Oct. 11 meeting. Mayor Ray Foust said, “I’ve already talked with some churches; it’s overwhelming the number of people who want to participate.” The land title transfer is expected to take place about Oct. 20. The council is looking to host a groundbreaking this fall.

NO NOVEMBER MEETING - The Planning Commission for the City of Montrose will not hold a regular meeting during the month of November due to several schedule conflicts, such as the general election and other factors. The planning commission will resume their regular schedule in December.

LOOK MA, NO WIRES! - On Monday, Oct. 8, Chesaning Schools Technology Director Andrew Reger announced that Big Rock Elementary School is now completely wireless [as far as computers go].” The school just received 60 iPads that will be distributed to staff. Chesaning Schools also has a new website online, which is still expanding; as teachers are starting to build their own pages.

LAND TRANSFER - Property owner Richard Jacobs went before the Chesaning Union Schools Board of Education on Monday, Oct. 8, to ask that his property be taken out of the Chesaning Union School District and transferred to the New Lothrop School District. Jacobs explained that his children attended Chesaning Union Schools. But now with foster children, Jacobs feels strongly that the foster children would benefit more from a smaller school district. Superintendent Mike McGough told the board, “Typically, school districts don’t release land to other school districts.” Jacobs responded, mentioning a previous case where Chesaning had released land to the New Lothrop School District. McGough said he would have the attorney look into it.